A partnership has this day been formed between Isaac Herzog and Louis Grossman, to carry on the business of the Bon Ton Credit Outfitting Company, under the same firm name.  It is understood that Mr. Grossman will have charge of the designing and manufacturing end of the concern.

He handed the paper over to Morris and lit a fresh cigar.

“Another sucker for Louis Grossman,” he said, “and I bet yer Henry D. Feldman drew up the copartnership papers.”

CHAPTER III

When Mr. Siegmund Lowenstein, proprietor of the O’Gorman-Henderson Dry-Goods Company of Galveston, Texas, entered Potash & Perlmutter’s show-room, he expected to give only a small order.  Mr. Lowenstein usually transacted his business with Abe Potash, who was rather conservative in matters of credit extension, more especially since Mr. Lowenstein was reputed to play auction pinochle with poor judgment and for high stakes.

Therefore, Mr. Lowenstein intended to buy a few staples, specialties of Potash & Perlmutter, and to reserve the balance of his spring orders for other dealers who entertained more liberal credit notions than did Abe Potash.  Much to his gratification, however, he was greeted by Morris Perlmutter.

“Ah, Mr. Perlmutter,” he said; “glad to see you.  Is Mr. Potash in?”

“He’s home, sick, to-day,” Morris replied.

Mr. Lowenstein clucked sympathetically.

“You don’t say so,” he murmured.  “That’s too bad.  What seems to be the trouble?”

“He’s been feeling mean all the winter,” Morris replied.  “The doctor says he needs a rest.”

“That’s always the way with them hard-working fellers,” Mr. Lowenstein went on.  “I’m feeling pretty sick myself, I assure you, Mr. Perlmutter.  I’ve been working early and late in my store.  We never put in such a season before, and we done a phenomenal holiday business.  We took stock last week and we’re quite cleaned out.  I bet you we ain’t got stuck a single garment in any line—­cloaks, suits, clothing or furs.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” Morris said.

“And we expect this season will be a crackerjack, too,” he continued.  “I had to give a few emergency orders to jobbers down South before I left Galveston, we had such an early rush of spring trade.”

“Is that so?” Morris commented.  “I wish we could say the same in New York.”

“You don’t tell me!” Mr. Lowenstein rejoined.  “Why, I was over by Garfunkel and Levy just now, and Mr. Levy says he is almost too busy.  I looked over their line and I may place an order with them, although they ain’t got too good an assortment, Mr. Perlmutter.”

“Far be it from me to knock a competitor’s line, Mr. Lowenstein,” Morris commented, “but I honestly think they get their designers off of Ellis Island.”

“Well,” Mr. Lowenstein conceded, “of course I don’t say they got so good an assortment what you have, Mr. Perlmutter, but they got a liberal credit policy.”